Cleaning apparatus having vacuum cleaner and docking station

ABSTRACT

A cleaning apparatus may include a vacuum cleaner with a dust collecting chamber; and a dust collecting station that is connectable to the vacuum cleaner through a seating portion with an opening in the front of the dust collecting station so. A controller is configured to, when the dust collecting chamber is seated on the seating portion, control a driving device to open the dust collecting chamber so that the opening of the seating portion communicates with the dust collecting chamber opening, and control a suction device to suction foreign substances in the dust collecting chamber through the dust collecting chamber opening, and the opening of the seating portion, and into a dust bag in the dust collecting station. A panel at the front of the dust collecting station may be opened to provide an opening at the front of the dust collecting station through which the dust bag is withdrawable.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation application under 35 U.S.C. § 111(a)of international Application No. PCT/KR2021/005933, filed on May 12,2021, which claims priority to Korean Patent Application No.10-2020-0082178, filed on Jul. 3, 2020, the disclosures of which areincorporated by reference herein in their entireties.

BACKGROUND 1. Field

The disclosure relates to a cleaning apparatus including a vacuumcleaner and a docking station, and more specifically, to a dockingstation and a cleaning apparatus capable of automatically dischargingdust inside a vacuum cleaner.

2. Description of the Related Art

In general, a vacuum cleaner is a device that is equipped with a fanmotor generating suction power, and through the suction power generatedby the fan motor, suctions foreign substances, such as dust, togetherwith air, separates the foreign substances contained in the suctionedair from the air, and collects the dust to perform cleaning.

The vacuum cleaner includes a dust collecting chamber for collectingforeign substances, and a user needs to periodically separate theforeign substances collected in the dust collecting chamber from thevacuum cleaner and discharge the separated foreign substances from thedust collecting chamber.

SUMMARY

Aspects of embodiments of the disclosure will be set forth in part inthe description which follows and, in part, will be apparent from thedescription, or may be learned by practice of the presented embodiments.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, a cleaning apparatus mayinclude a vacuum cleaner including a dust collecting chamber; whereinthe dust collecting chamber includes a dust collecting chamber bodyhaving a dust collecting chamber opening, a dust collecting chamber doorconfigured to open or close the dust collecting chamber opening, and afixing member configured to fix the dust collecting chamber door to thedust collecting chamber body to close the dust collecting chamberopening, and, when pressed by an external force, to release the dustcollecting chamber door to open the dust collecting chamber opening; anda dust collecting station configured to be connectable to the vacuumcleaner, the dust collecting station longitudinally extending along afirst direction and having a front that faces a second directionperpendicular to the first direction, and wherein the dust collectingstation includes a seating portion including an opening in the front ofthe dust collecting station, and configured so that the dust collectingchamber is seatable on the opening of the seating portion; a suctiondevice configured to generate a suction airflow; a dust bag disposedbetween the opening of the seating portion and the suction device; anopening guide configured to press the fixing member of the dustcollecting chamber; a driving device configured to drive the openingguide; and a controller configured to, when the dust collecting chamberis seated on the opening of the seating portion, control the drivingdevice to drive the opening guide to press the fixing member of the dustcollecting chamber to release the dust collecting chamber door so thatthe opening of the seating portion communicates with the dust collectingchamber opening, and, when the opening of the seating portioncommunicates with the dust collecting chamber opening, control thesuction device to generate the suction airflow to suction foreignsubstances in the dust collecting chamber through the dust collectingchamber opening, then through the opening of the seating portion, andinto the dust bag. The dust collecting station may further include apanel at the front of the dust collecting station and configured to openand thereby provide an opening at the front of the dust collectingstation through which the dust bag is withdrawable.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the opening guide isprovided to reciprocatingly move in the second direction to press thefixing member to open the dust collecting chamber door.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the first directionextends longitudinally from an upper end of the dust collecting stationto a lower end of the dust collecting station.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the driving deviceincludes a motor configured to provide a rotational force to drive theopening guide to be reciprocatingly moved in the second direction.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the dust collectingchamber is provided to be connected to the opening of the seatingportion in a direction of a longitudinal axis of the dust collectingchamber body.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the vacuum cleaner furtherincludes a cleaner body; a suction unit configured to suction foreignsubstances; and an extension pipe connecting the suction unit and thecleaner body and having a longitudinal axis provided to be perpendicularto the longitudinal axis of the dust collecting chamber body.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the vacuum cleaner furtherincludes a cleaner body; a suction unit configured to suction foreignsubstances; and an extension pipe connecting the suction unit and thecleaner body and having a longitudinal axis; wherein the vacuum cleaner,upon the dust collecting chamber being seated in the seating portion, issupported on the dust collecting station such that the longitudinal axisof the extension pipe is arranged in parallel with the first direction.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the dust collectingchamber door is provided to be disposed inside the opening of the dustcollecting station when opened by the opening guide pressing the fixingmember.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the opening guide has ashape protruding upward in the first direction.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the dust collectingchamber includes, a rotation shaft disposed at a first side of the dustcollecting chamber body, the dust collecting chamber door is provided tobe rotated with respect to the rotation shaft, the fixing member isdisposed at a second side opposite to the rotation shaft with respect toa center of the dust collecting chamber body, and the dust collectingchamber is provided such that the fixing member is disposed downward ofthe rotation shaft in the first direction when the dust collectingchamber is seated on the dust collecting station.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the dust collectingchamber further includes an elastic member disposed at a side of therotation shaft and provided to bias the dust collecting chamber door ina direction toward the dust collecting chamber body.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the dust collectingstation is configured such that the seating portion, the dust bag, andthe suction device are sequentially disposed along a longitudinal axisof the dust collecting station from an upper end of the dust collectingstation toward a lower end of the dust collecting station.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the cleaning apparatusfurther includes a flow path formed between the opening of the seatingportion to the suction device; and a flow path changing device providedto block at least a portion of the flow path.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the flow path changingdevice is provided to be driven while the suction device is beingdriven.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the dust collectingstation further includes a flow path guide disposed inside the dustcollecting station opposite to the opening of the seating portion, theflow path guide having a curved shape so as to extend in the seconddirection toward the opening of the seating portion, and in the firstdirection toward the suction device, such that the flow path extendsfrom the opening of the seating portion to the suction device via thedust bag.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the dust collectingchamber further includes a first dust collecting part formed along aninner circumferential surface of the dust collecting chamber body, and asecond dust collecting part formed at a center of the first dustcollecting part and divided from the first dust collecting part; and theseating portion is provided so that, when the dust collecting chamberopening is opened, the suction airflow is simultaneously supplied toboth the first dust collecting part and the second dust collecting part.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the dust collectingchamber further includes a cap part disposed on the dust collectingchamber door so as to prevent foreign substances collected in the seconddust collecting part from escaping to an outside when the dustcollecting chamber opening is closed, wherein the cap part is disposedto face the suction device in a state in which the dust collectingchamber opening is open inside the seating portion.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the seating portion isdisposed on the front of the dust collecting station.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the dust collectingstation further includes a charging portion provided to charge a batteryof the vacuum cleaner; and the controller is configured to control, whenthe dust collecting chamber is seated on the opening of the seatingportion, the dust collecting station to operate in a suction mode inwhich the suction device is driven, and the dust collecting station tooperate in a charging mode in which the charging portion is driven.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the controller controlsthe charging portion so that the battery is not charged while the dustcollecting station is being driven in the suction mode.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the controller controlsthe charging portion so that the battery is charged while the dustcollecting station is being driven in the suction mode.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the controller controlsthe suction device so that the suction device is not driven while thedust collecting station is being driven in the charging mode.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the charging portion isdisposed above the seating portion in the first direction.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the charging portion, theseating portion, the dust bag, and the suction device are sequentiallydisposed in the first direction.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the charging portionincludes a charging terminal provided to be in contact with the battery,and a battery guide configured to guide at least a portion of the vacuumcleaner so that the battery is in contact with the charging terminalwhen the dust collecting chamber is seated on the opening of the seatingportion.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, a cleaning apparatus mayinclude a vacuum cleaner including a dust collecting chamber; whereinthe dust collecting chamber includes a dust collecting chamber bodyhaving a dust collecting chamber opening, a dust collecting chamber doorconfigured to open or close collector dust collecting chamber opening,and a fixing member configured to fix the dust collecting chamber doorto the dust collecting chamber body to close the dust collecting chamberopening, and, when pressed by an external force, to release the dustcollecting chamber door to open the dust collecting chamber opening; anda dust collecting station configured to be connectable to the vacuumcleaner, the dust collecting station longitudinally extending along afirst direction and having a front that faces a second directionperpendicular to the first direction; wherein the dust collectingstation includes a seating portion including an opening in the front ofthe dust collecting station, and configured so that the dust collectingchamber is seatable on the opening of the seating portion, a suctiondevice configured to generate a suction airflow, a dust bag disposedbetween the opening of the seating portion and the suction device, anopening guide configured to press the fixing member of the dustcollecting chamber, a charging portion configured to charge a battery ofthe vacuum cleaner, a driving device configured to drive the openingguide, and a controller configured to control a suction mode by, whenthe dust collecting chamber is seated on the opening of the seatingportion, controlling the charging portion so as not to charge thebattery, and controlling the driving device to drive the opening guideto press the fixing member of the dust collecting chamber to release thedust collecting chamber door so that the opening of the seating portioncommunicates with the dust collecting chamber opening, and when theopening of the seating portion communicates with the dust collectingchamber opening, controlling the suction device to generate the suctionairflow to suction foreign substances in the dust collecting chamberthrough the dust collecting chamber opening, then through the opening ofthe seating portion, and into the dust bag, and control a charging modeby, when the dust collecting chamber is seated on the opening of theseating portion, controlling the driving device to not drive the openingguide, and controlling the charging portion to charge the battery.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the dust collectingstation further includes a panel at the front of the dust collectingstation and configured to open and thereby provide an opening at thefront of the dust collecting station through which the dust bag iswithdrawable.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the opening guide isprovided to reciprocatingly move in the second direction to press thefixing member to open the dust collecting chamber door.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the charging portionincludes a charging terminal provided to be in contact with the battery,and a battery guide configured to guide at least a portion of the vacuumcleaner so that the battery is in contact with the charging terminalwhen the dust collecting chamber is seated on the opening of the seatingportion.

Additional embodiments of the disclosure will be set forth in part inthe description which follows and, in part, will be obvious from thedescription, or will be apparent from the disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and/or other embodiments of the disclosure will become apparentand more readily appreciated from the following description of theembodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings ofwhich:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a docking station of acleaning apparatus according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a view illustrating a state in which a vacuum cleaner of acleaning apparatus according to an embodiment of the disclosure isseparated from a docking station.

FIG. 3 is a view illustrating a side cross-section of a part of adocking station in a state in which a vacuum cleaner of a cleaningapparatus according to an embodiment of the disclosure is docked ontothe docking station.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a part of a vacuum cleaner ofa cleaning apparatus according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional perspective view of a part of a vacuumcleaner before the vacuum cleaner is docked onto a docking station in acleaning apparatus according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional perspective view of a part of a vacuumcleaner in a state in which the vacuum cleaner is docked onto a dockingstation in a cleaning apparatus according to an embodiment of thedisclosure.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional perspective view of a part of a vacuumcleaner when a suction device is driven in a state in which the vacuumcleaner is docked onto the docking station in the cleaning apparatusaccording to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional perspective view of a part of a vacuumcleaner before the vacuum cleaner is docked onto a docking station in acleaning apparatus according to another embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional perspective view of a part of a vacuumcleaner before the vacuum cleaner is docked onto a docking station in acleaning apparatus according to another embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional perspective view of a part of a vacuumcleaner in a state in which the vacuum cleaner is docked onto a dockingstation in a cleaning apparatus according to another embodiment of thedisclosure.

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional perspective view of a part of a vacuumcleaner docked onto a docking station with an opening guide driven in acleaning apparatus according to another embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 12 is a view illustrating a state in which a vacuum cleaner of acleaning apparatus according to another embodiment of the disclosure isdocked onto a docking station.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments described in the specification and configurations shown inthe accompanying drawings are merely exemplary examples of thedisclosure, and various modifications may replace the embodiments andthe drawings of the disclosure at the time of filing of the presentapplication.

Further, identical symbols or numbers in the drawings of the disclosuredenote components or elements configured to perform substantiallyidentical functions.

Further, terms used herein are only for the purpose of describingparticular embodiments and are not intended to limit to the disclosure.The singular form is intended to include the plural form as well, unlessthe context clearly indicates otherwise. It should be further understoodthat the terms “include,” “including,” “have,” and/or “having” specifythe presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements,components, and/or groups thereof, but do not preclude the presence oraddition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations,elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

Further, it should be understood that, although the terms “first,”“second,” etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, theelements are not limited by the terms, and the terms are only used todistinguish one element from another. For example, a first element couldbe termed a second element, and similarly, a second element could betermed a first element without departing from the scope of thedisclosure. The term “and/or” includes combinations of one or all of aplurality of associated listed items.

Further, the terms “upper side,” “lower side,” “upper side and lowerside direction,” and the like used herein are defined with reference tothe drawings, and the shape and the location of the components are notlimited by the terms.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the cleaning apparatus canallow the docking station of the vacuum cleaner to charge the battery ofthe vacuum cleaner while automatically removing foreign substancescollected in the dust collecting chamber of the vacuum cleaner.According to an embodiment of the disclosure, when the dust collectingchamber of the vacuum cleaner is inserted into the docking station in adirection substantially perpendicular to an upper side and lower sidedirection, foreign substances collected in the dust collecting chambercan be effectively removed.

Hereinafter, an embodiment according to the disclosure will be describedin detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a docking station of acleaning apparatus according to an embodiment of the disclosure, FIG. 2is a view illustrating a state in which a vacuum cleaner of a cleaningapparatus according to an embodiment of the disclosure is separated froma docking station, FIG. 3 is a view illustrating a side cross-section ofa part of a docking station in a state in which a vacuum cleaner of acleaning apparatus according to an embodiment of the disclosure isdocked onto a docking station, and FIG. 4 is a perspective viewillustrating a part of a vacuum cleaner of a cleaning apparatusaccording to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIGS. 1 to 4 , a cleaning apparatus 1 may include a cleaner 10 and adocking station 100.

The cleaner 10 may include a cleaner body 11, an extension pipe 17detachably coupled to the cleaner body 11, a suction unit 18 detachablycoupled to the extension pipe 17, and a dust collecting chamber 20connected to the cleaner body.

The cleaner body 11 may include a suction motor (not shown) thatgenerates a suction force required to suction foreign substances on asurface to be cleaned.

The dust collecting chamber 20 may be disposed upstream of the suctionmotor (not shown) in an air current, to filter out dust or dirt in theair introduced through the main suction unit 18 and collect the filtereddust or dirt. The dust collecting chamber 20 may be integrally formedwith the cleaner body 11. When the cleaner body 11 and the dustcollecting chamber 20 are referred to as being integrally formed witheach other, the cleaner body 11 and the dust collecting chamber 20 mayprovide a structure in which the dust collecting chamber 20 is notarbitrarily separated from the cleaner body 11 in use. However, thedisclosure is not limited thereto, and the dust collecting chamber 20may be provided to be detachable from the cleaner body 11.

The cleaner body 11 may include a handle 14 to be gripped by a user formanipulation of the cleaner 10. The user may hold the handle 14 and movethe cleaner 10 in the front-rear direction.

The cleaner body 11 may include a dust collection guide 15 for guidingforeign substances into the dust collecting chamber 20 by connecting thedust collecting chamber 20 to the extension pipe 17 and the suction unit18.

The dust collection guide 15 may be coupled to the above-describedextension pipe 17 while guiding the foreign substances to the dustcollecting chamber 20 as described above. In addition, the dustcollection guide 15 may be provided to be directly coupled to thesuction unit 18 other than the extension pipe 17 or may be coupled toother components, such as an auxiliary suction unit.

The extension pipe 17 may extend to have a long axis X extending in onedirection.

Accordingly, the user may have an increased convenience of cleaning bycoupling various components to the dust collection guide 15 according tothe cleaning situation.

The dust collecting chamber 20 may be provided in a cylindrical shapehaving an extension axis Y extending in a direction substantiallyperpendicular to a direction in which the long axis X of the extensionpipe 17 extends. In detail, the dust collection guide 15 may be coupledto the extension pipe 17 such that the long axis X of the extension pipe17 faces in a direction substantially perpendicular to the extendingdirection of the extension axis Y of the dust collecting chamber 20.

The dust collecting chamber 20 may include a cylindrical body 22extending in the extending direction of the extension axis Y.

The dust collecting chamber 20 may be provided to collect foreignsubstances through centrifugal rotation separation through thecylindrical body 22. The dust collecting chamber 20 may include amulti-cyclone to collect foreign substances by centrifugal rotationseparation.

The dust collecting chamber 20 may include a dust collecting chamberdoor 21 that is disposed at a side opposite to a portion connected tothe dust collection guide 15 in the extending direction of the extensionaxis Y and configured to open and close the dust collecting chamber 20.

When a large amount of foreign substances is collected in the dustcollecting chamber 20, the user may open the dust collecting chamberdoor 21 to discharge the foreign substances collected in the dustcollecting chamber 20 from the dust collecting chamber 20.

In detail, the dust collecting chamber door 21 may be provided to openand close a dust collecting chamber opening 23 that is formed at one endof the body 22 of the dust collecting chamber 20 and provided to be openin the extending direction of the extension axis Y.

The dust collecting chamber opening 23 may be openable in a directionsubstantially perpendicular to a direction in which the long axis X ofthe extension pipe 17 extends.

The handle 14 may be disposed at a side of the dust collecting chamber20 opposite to a side in which the extension pipe 17 is disposed.

The cleaner 10 may include a battery 16 provided to provide a drivingforce to the cleaner 10. The battery 16 may be detachably mounted to thecleaner body 11. Specifically, the battery 16 may be disposed adjacentto the handle 14.

Accordingly, the battery 16 may be disposed at a side of the dustcollecting chamber 20 opposite to a side in which the extension pipe 17is disposed.

The battery 16 may be electrically connected to a charging terminal 123provided in the docking station 100 to be described below. The battery16 may be charged by receiving power from the charging terminal 123provided in the docking station 100.

The docking station 100 may be configured for the cleaner 10 to bestored or mounted thereon. The cleaner 10 may be charged in the dockingstation 100.

The docking station 100 may include a body housing 110 that forms theexternal appearance of the docking station 100.

The body housing 110 may be provided to have a long axis extending inone direction. The long axis of the body housing 110 may preferably beprovided to extend in the upper side and lower side direction.Accordingly, the docking station 100 may be provided in the shape of abox extending approximately in the upper side and lower side direction.

The docking station 100 may include a charging part 120 onto which thehandle 14 of the cleaner 10 is docked to supply the battery 16 withpower.

The charging part 120 may include a battery mounting part 121 on whichthe battery 16 is mounted, a battery guide 122 for guiding the mountingof the battery 16 and the charging terminal 123 for supplying power tothe battery 16 in response to the battery 16 being mounted on thecharging part 120.

The battery 16 may be provided detachably from the cleaner body 11.Accordingly, the cleaner 10 may be provided to be coupled with one ormore replaceable batteries 16.

The battery 16 may be disposed to be exposed to the outside as in theembodiment of the disclosure, but may be disposed inside the cleanerbody 11 of the cleaner 10 without being exposed to the outside. In thiscase, the charging part 120 may be provided to seat at least a portionof the cleaner body 11, in which the battery 16 is disposed, thereon tocharge the battery 16.

The cleaner 10 may approach the docking station 100 in a seconddirection B, which is a direction approximately perpendicular to thefirst direction A, which is the extending direction of the dockingstation 100, to be docked onto the docking station 100. This is to allowthe battery 16 of the cleaner 10 to be docked onto the docking station100 at the same time as the dust collecting chamber 20 of the cleaner 10is docked onto the docking station 100.

The conventional docking station is provided to, when the cleaner isdocked onto the docking station, supply the battery with power asdescribed above. The docking station 100 according to an embodiment ofthe disclosure is further implemented to, when the cleaner 10 is dockedonto the docking station 100, allow dust collected inside the dustcollecting chamber 20 to be automatically discharged, so thatconvenience of the consumer is increased.

In the conventional technology, the user needs to directly empty thedust collected in the dust collecting chamber 20 after using the cleaner10, which is cumbersome. However, the docking station 100 according tothe embodiment of the disclosure may be implemented to, when the cleaner10 is docked, directly dock with the dust collecting chamber 20 so thatdust collected inside the dust collecting chamber 20 may beautomatically removed.

The docking station 100 according to the embodiment of the disclosure isprovided to automatically discharge the dust collected in the dustcollecting chamber 20 while charging the battery 16 of the cleaner 10when the cleaner 10 is docked on the docking station 100. However, aswill be described below, the docking station 100 may be provided to,when the cleaner 10 is docked onto the docking station 100, selectivelycharge the cleaner 10 only or charge the cleaner 10 while dischargingdust of the dust collecting chamber 20 according to a users selection.

The docking station 100 may include a suction device 130 to dischargethe dust collected in the dust collecting chamber 20 from the dustcollecting chamber 20.

The docking station 100 may include a controller (not shown) for a userto input a signal for driving the suction device 130. When the cleaner10 is docked onto the docking station 100, the user may input a signalto the controller (not shown) so that the docking station 100 iscontrolled to charge the battery 16 of the cleaner 10 while dischargingthe foreign substances collected in the dust collecting chamber 20.

However, the disclosure is not limited thereto, and the controller (notshown) of the docking station 100 may be provided to drive the suctiondevice 130 upon receiving a detection value of a sensor for detectingdocking of the cleaner 10, so that the suction device 130 isautomatically driven in response to the cleaner 10 being docked evenwithout a signal inputted by a user.

The docking station 100 may include a docking part 140 provided for thedust collecting chamber 20 to be docked onto the docking station 100.

As described above, the body housing 110 may be provided to have a longaxis extending in the first direction A. The first direction A may beprovided in a direction corresponding to the upper side and lower sidedirection. Accordingly, the docking station 100 may be provided in a boxshape extending in the upper side and lower side direction.

The docking part 140 may be disposed in an upper portion of the bodyhousing 110. The docking part 140 may be disposed at a lower side of thecharging part 120 in the extending direction of the body housing 110.

In an example embodiment, the charging part 120 may be disposed on theupper end of the body housing 110 in the extending direction of the bodyhousing 110, and the docking part 140 may be disposed at a lower side ofthe charging part 120.

Accordingly, the cleaner 10 may be docked onto the docking station 100such that a side of the cleaner 10 on which the battery 16 is disposedis arranged on the upper side in the first direction A and a side of thecleaner 10 on which the extension pipe 17 is disposed is arranged on thelower side in the first direction A.

The suction device 130 may be disposed inside the body housing 110. Indetail, the suction device 130 may be disposed at a lower portion of thebody housing 110 in the extending direction of the body housing 110.

The docking station 100 may include a collecting part 150 for collectingforeign substances discharged from the dust collecting chamber 20. Thecollecting part 150 may be disposed inside the body housing 110. Thecollecting part 150 may be disposed at an upper side of the suctiondevice 130.

The charging part 120, the docking part 140, the collecting part 150,and the suction device 130 may be sequentially disposed in the extendingdirection of the body housing 110.

The docking station 100 may include a suction flow path 141 connectingthe docking part 140 and the collecting part 150 to each other andallowing foreign substances discharged from the dust collecting chamber20 to be suctioned through the docking part 140 to the collecting part150. The suction flow path 141 may be provided to extend in theextending direction of the body housing 110 to connect the docking part140 and the collecting part 150 to each other.

The docking part 140 may include a seating space 142 communicating withthe suction flow path 141 and in which the dust collecting chamber 20 isseated. The docking part 140 may include a docking opening 143 providedso that the dust collecting chamber 20 is docked onto the dockingstation 100 from the outside of the docking station 100.

At least a portion of the dust collecting chamber 20 may be provided tobe inserted into the docking opening 143. The dust collecting chamber 20may be seated on the seating space 142 through the docking opening 143.

The docking opening 143 may be opened in a direction substantiallyperpendicular to the extending direction of the long axis of the bodyhousing 110. That is, the docking opening 143 may be opened in thesecond direction B perpendicular to the first direction A.

As described above, the docking station 100 is provided in a box shapeextending in the upper side and lower side direction. Accordingly, thedocking opening 143 may be provided to be opened in the front-reardirection or the left-right direction of the docking station 100.

The seating space 142 may have one end provided to communicate with thedocking opening 143, and the other end provided to communicate with thesuction flow path 141. Accordingly, the seating space 142 may beprovided in a bent shape in which the seating space 142 formed to extendin the second direction B is also formed to extend in the firstdirection A.

Since the docking opening 143 is provided to be open while facing in thesecond direction B, the dust collecting chamber 20 may be docked ontothe docking station 100 in a direction substantially perpendicular tothe direction in which the long axis of the body housing 110 extends.The cleaner 10 may be provided to be docked onto the docking station 100in the second direction B.

The body housing 110 may include a docking surface 111 provided at aside in which the docking opening 143 is disposed and the cleaner 10 isdocked. The docking surface 111 may be provided to form one surface ofthe body housing 110. The docking surface 111 may be provided to face inthe second direction B, which is the direction the docking opening 143is opened.

Although not shown, the docking surface 111 may be provided in variousshapes as well as a flat surface or a curved surface.

The docking surface 111 may extend in a planar shape having a long axisextending in one direction. Since the body housing 110 is provided in abox shape extending in the first direction A, which is the upper sideand lower side direction, as described above, the long axis of thedocking surface 111 may extend in a direction corresponding to the firstdirection A.

The docking opening 143 and the charging part 120 may be formed on thedocking surface 111. However, the disclosure is not limited thereto, andthe charging part 120 may be disposed upward of the docking surface 111,in detail, above the docking surface 111 in the extending direction ofthe docking surface 111.

The cleaner 10 may be docked onto the docking station 100 in a directionfacing the docking surface 111 of the docking station 100. The cleaner10 may be provided to be docked onto the docking station 100 in thesecond direction B.

The cleaner 10 may be docked onto the docking station 100 in a directionperpendicular to a direction in which the long axis of the dockingsurface 111 extends in the docking station 100. The cleaner 10 may beprovided to be docked onto the docking station 100 in the seconddirection B that is perpendicular to the first direction A.

Accordingly, when the dust collecting chamber 20 is docked onto thedocking station 100, the first direction A, which is the extendingdirection of the long axis of the body housing 110, and the extensionaxis Y of the dust collecting chamber 20 are provided to face indirections approximately perpendicular to each other.

That is, the extension axis Y of the dust collecting chamber 20 may beinserted into the docking opening 143 of the docking station 100 in adirection corresponding to the second direction B. Accordingly, in astate in which the cleaner 10 is docked onto the docking station 100,the long axis X of the extension pipe 17 of the cleaner 10 may bedisposed in a direction corresponding to the first direction A. This isbecause the long axis X of the extension pipe 17 and the extension axisY of the dust collecting chamber 20 are provided to be perpendicular toeach other.

When the dust collecting chamber 20 is docked in a direction that is notperpendicular to the long axis of the docking station 100, the extensionpipe 17 of the cleaner 10 may be disposed to face other directions thanthe first direction A, so that the cleaner 10 docked onto the dockingstation 100 without the extension pipe 17 being separated by the usermay lower the aesthetic sense and degrade the spatial efficiency of thespace around the docking station 100.

In addition, since it is also difficult for a user to separate theextension pipe or the suction unit that may be coupled to the dustcollection guide 15, the usability of the docking station 100 maydecrease.

In order to solve such a limitation, the cleaning apparatus 1 accordingto the embodiment of the disclosure may be provided to allow the vacuumcleaner 10 to be docked onto the docking station 100 and allowsubstances collected in the dust collecting chamber 20 to beautomatically discharged in the docking station 100 in a state in whichthe extension pipe 17 or the suction unit 18 is coupled to the dustcollection guide 15 of the cleaner 10.

That is, the cleaning apparatus 1 may be provided to, when the cleaner10 is docked onto the docking station 100, arrange the direction inwhich the long axis X of the extension pipe 17 of the cleaner 10 facesto be in the first direction A, which is a direction in which the longaxis of the docking station 100 extends.

The dust collecting chamber 20 may be provided with a cyclone 24disposed therein. The dust collecting chamber 20 may be provided tocollect foreign substances to a lower side 24 a of the cyclone 24. Thedust collecting container 20 may include a first dust collecting part 20a that performs primarily dust collection to collect relatively largeforeign substances and a second dust collecting part 20 b that performsdust collection by the cyclone 24 to collect relatively small foreignsubstances.

Both the first dust collecting part 20 a and the second dust collectingpart 20 b may be provided to be open to the outside when the dustcollecting chamber door 21 is opened.

Accordingly, when the dust collecting chamber door 21 disposed at oneend of the body 22 is opened, the foreign substances collected in thedust collecting chamber 20 may be easily discharged to the outside ofthe dust collecting chamber 20.

When the cleaner 10 is docked onto the docking station 100, at least aportion of the dust collecting chamber 20 may be provided to be insertedinto the docking part 140 through the docking opening 143. In detail,the dust collecting chamber door 21 disposed at one end of the body 22of the dust collecting chamber 20 may be disposed in the seating area142 provided inside the docking part 140.

Therefore, when the cleaner 10 is docked onto the docking station 100,the dust collecting chamber door 21 is opened inside the docking part140 so that the foreign substances collected in the dust collectingchamber 20 may be discharged inside the docking station 100 withoutbeing scattered to the outside of the docking station 100.

The suction flow path 141 may be connected from the docking part 140 tothe collecting part 150. The suction flow path 141 may transmit the flowof air current generated by the suction device 130 to the dustcollecting chamber 20. That is, a suction air current generated by thesuction device 130 passes through the collecting part 150, and thenalong the suction flow path 141 and the seating area 142, reaches theinside of the dust collecting chamber 20, and the suction air currentcauses foreign substances inside the dust collecting chamber 20 to bedischarged, along a flow of the air current, from the dust collectingchamber 20 to the seating area 142, and then via the suction flow path141, collected in the collecting part 150.

The collecting part 150 may include a collecting part housing 151. Thecollecting part housing 151 may form an inner space. The collecting part150 may include a dust bag 152 disposed in the inner space of thecollecting part 150 and collecting foreign substances introduced throughthe suction flow path 141.

The dust bag 152 is formed of a material that transmits air whileblocking foreign substances so that foreign substances introduced fromthe dust collecting chamber 20 into the collecting part 150 may becollected.

The dust bag 152 may be directly connected to the suction flow path 141,and the dust bag 152 may be provided detachably from the collecting part150.

As shown in FIG. 3 , body housing 110 may include a panel 158 that iscoupled to the body housing 110 or docking surface 111 through couplingmembers 158 a and 158 b, and is separable from the body housing 110 sothat the user replaces the dust bag 152 from the outside when foreignsubstances are collected in the dust bag 152 by driving of the dockingstation 100. The user may separate the panel 158 and open the collectingpart housing 151 to separate the dust bag 152 from the collecting part150, and discharge the foreign substances collected by the dockingstation 100. In an example embodiment the panel 158 is arranged at thefront of the body housing 110 and configured to be openable to providean opening at the front of the body housing 110 through which the dustbag 152 can be withdrawn.

Although not shown in the drawing, the collecting part 150 may includean additional dust collecting chamber (not shown) in addition to thedust bag 152. The inner space of the additional dust collecting chamber(not shown) may be provided to be larger than the inner space of thedust collecting chamber 20, and, similar to the dust collecting chamber20, may include a cyclone to collect fine foreign substances.

The suction device 130 may include a suction fan 131 and a suctiondevice housing 132 forming an inner space in which the suction fan 131is disposed.

The suction air current formed by the suction fan 131 may move from theinner space of the suction device housing 132, passing through thecollecting part 150 and the suction flow path 141, to be finallysupplied to the dust collecting chamber 20.

The docking station 100 may include a flow rate changing device 160provided to selectively change the amount of suction air currentsupplied to the dust collecting chamber 20.

Air and foreign substances inside the dust collecting chamber 20 may bedischarged to the outside through the dust collecting chamber door 21 ofthe dust collecting chamber 20 along the suction flow path 141, but someof the foreign substances may be caught with inner components of thedust collecting chamber 20 and fail to be discharged to the outside.

For example, foreign substances, such as hair, may be caught in theinner component of the dust collecting chamber 20, and thus withoutbeing separated out of the dust collecting chamber 20 by the suction aircurrent generated to a lower side of the dust collecting chamber door21, remain inside the dust collecting chamber 20.

The suction air current delivered to the inside of the dust collectingchamber 20 may be formed to face only in a direction in which the dustcollecting chamber opening 23 of the dust collecting chamber 20 isopened. Accordingly, some foreign substances may have a resistance tothe direction in which the suction air current is formed, and may not beseparated from the dust collecting chamber 20 by the suction aircurrent.

Accordingly, foreign substances inside the dust collecting chamber 20may not be effectively removed.

The docking station 100 according to the embodiment of the disclosuremay include the flow rate change device 160 that is provided toselectively supply the dust collecting chamber 20 with additionaloutside air in addition to the suction air current to solve theabove-described limitation.

The flow rate changing device 150 may change the flow rate inside thedust collecting chamber 20 while the suction air current is beingsupplied to the inside of the dust collecting chamber 20 so that the airinside the dust collecting chamber 20 is being suctioned by the suctiondevice 130, to variously change the flow of air inside the dustcollecting chamber 20.

The flow rate changing device 160 may be disposed inside the bodyhousing 110. The flow rate changing device 160 may be disposed betweenthe collecting part 150 and the suction device 130. In detail, the flowrate changing device 160 may be disposed between the collecting part 150and a flow path to which the suction device 130 is connected.

However, the disclosure is not limited thereto, and the flow ratechanging device 160 may be provided to be disposed between thecollecting part 150 and the suction flow path 141.

The suction device 130, the flow rate changing device 160, thecollecting part 150, and the docking part 140 may all be disposed insidethe body housing 110.

With respect to the first direction A, the charging part 120, thedocking part 140, the collecting part 150, the flow rate changing device160, and the suction device 130 may be sequentially disposed.

Accordingly, the docking station 100 may be provided in a box shapeextending in the upper side and lower side direction, which is the firstdirection A.

As described above, the dust collecting container 20 may include thefirst dust collecting part 20 a that performs primarily dust collectionto collect relatively large foreign substances and the second dustcollecting part 20 b that performs dust collection by the cyclone 24 tocollect relatively small foreign substances.

Both the first dust collecting part 20 a and the second dust collectingpart 20 b may be provided to be open to the outside when the dustcollecting chamber door 21 is opened. In this case, when the dustcollecting container door 21 is opened, both the first dust collectingpart 20 a and the second dust collecting part 20 b may be provided to beopened to the outside.

The dust collecting chamber door 21 may include a coupling protrusion 21a provided to be coupled to the body 22 so that the dust collectingchamber 20 is maintained in a closed state and a cap portion 21 bconfigured to prevent the foreign substances collected in the seconddust collecting part 20 b from being scattered to the outside when thedust collecting chamber 20 is closed.

The dust collecting chamber door 21 may open and close the dustcollecting chamber opening 23 while rotating around a rotation shaft 21c disposed at one side of one end of the body 22 in which the dustcollecting chamber opening 23 is formed.

The rotation shaft 21 c may be disposed on one end of the body 22 at aside adjacent to the handle 14. That is, the rotation shaft 21 c may bedisposed at a side opposite to a side in which the extension pipe 17 isdisposed with respect to the extension axis Y of the dust collectingchamber 20.

This is to allow the rotation shaft 21 c to be disposed on the upper endof the dust collecting chamber 20 in the first direction A when thecleaner 10 is docked onto the docking station 100, as will be describedbelow.

The dust collecting chamber 20 may include a fixing member 25 disposedon the other side of the one end of the body 22 and supporting thecoupling protrusion 21 a to prevent the dust collecting chamber door 21from being separated from the one end of the body 22.

The fixing member 25 may be hook-coupled with the coupling protrusion 21a to prevent the coupling protrusion 21 a from being separated from thebody 22.

The fixing member 25 may include a push portion 25 a provided to berotated when pressed by an external force to release the hook couplingwith the coupling protrusion 21 a, and a hook portion 25 b hook-coupledwith the coupling protrusion 21 a in association with the push portion25 a.

The fixing member 25 may include an elastic member (not shown) providedto maintain the hook-coupled state of the hook portion 25 b and thecoupling protrusion 21 a when the fixing member 25 is not pressed by thepush portion 25 a.

The elastic member (not shown) may be provided to be biased, in a statein which the dust collecting chamber door 21 is closed, so that the hookportion 25 b is pressed in a direction toward the coupling protrusion 21a, causing the hook coupling of the hook portion 25 b and the couplingprotrusion 21 a to be maintained.

When a force greater than the elastic force of the elastic member (notshown) is applied to the push portion 25 a, the hook portion 25 b isrotated in association with the push portion 25 a, and the hook couplingof the hook portion 25 b and the coupling protrusion 21 a may bereleased.

Therefore, when an external force is applied to the push portion 25 a ina direction opposite to the radial direction of the body 22, the pushportion 25 a may rotate in the opposite direction to the radialdirection of the body 22, and accordingly, the hook portion 25 b may berotated in the radial direction of the body 22 to move in a directionaway from the coupling protrusion 21 a.

Accordingly, the user may press the push portion 25 a to open the dustcollecting chamber 20, and discharge the foreign substances collected inthe dust collecting chamber 20 to the outside of the dust collectingchamber 20.

Hereinafter, a technical feature in which the cleaner 10 is docked ontothe docking station 100 for the foreign substances collected in the dustcollecting chamber 20 to be discharged will be described in detail.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional perspective view of a part of a vacuumcleaner before the vacuum cleaner is docked onto a docking station in acleaning apparatus according to an embodiment of the disclosure, FIG. 6is a cross-sectional perspective view of a part of a vacuum cleaner in astate in which the vacuum cleaner is docked onto a docking station in acleaning apparatus according to an embodiment of the disclosure, andFIG. 7 is a cross-sectional perspective view of a part of a vacuumcleaner when a suction device is driven in a state in which the vacuumcleaner is docked onto the docking station in the cleaning apparatusaccording to an embodiment of the disclosure.

As described above, the dust collecting chamber 20 may be docked ontothe docking station 100 such that the extension axis Y faces in thesecond direction B. Accordingly, the dust collecting chamber 20 may bedocked onto the docking station 100 such that the extension axis Y isarranged in a direction perpendicular to the first direction A, which isthe direction of gravity.

When the extension axis Y of the dust collecting chamber 20 is arrangedin a direction corresponding to the direction of gravity, the dustcollecting chamber opening 23 may be arranged to be open downward, andthe dust collecting chamber door 21 may be arranged at the lower end ofthe dust collecting chamber 20. In this case, when the fixing member 25is pressed, the dust collecting chamber door 21 may be separated fromthe body 22 by the gravity and rotate about the rotation shaft 21 c inthe direction of gravity, causing the dust collecting chamber opening 23to be opened.

However, when the extending direction of the extension axis Y of thedust collecting chamber 20 is arranged in a direction perpendicular tothe direction of gravity as in the embodiment of the disclosure, thedust collecting chamber door 21 may remain closed even when the fixingmember 25 is pressed, unless an additional external force is generated.

In particular, since the rotation shaft 21 c of the dust collectingchamber door 21 is disposed on a side opposite to a side in which theextension pipe 17 is disposed with respect to the extension axis Y ofthe dust collecting chamber 20 as described, the rotation shaft 21 c maybe provided to be disposed on the upper end of the dust collectingchamber 20 in the first direction A when the cleaner 10 is docked ontothe docking station 100, so that the dust collecting chamber door 21 mayremain closed without being affected by the gravity even in an openablestate.

That is, since the dust collecting chamber 20 is docked onto the dockingstation 100 such that the extension axis Y of the dust collectingchamber 20 faces in the second direction B as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 ,the dust collecting chamber door 21 may maintain a closed state evenwhen the fixing member 25 is pressed inside the docking part 140 in thedocked state of the dust collecting chamber 20.

The docking part 140 may include an opening guide 145 provided to pressthe push portion 25 a when the dust collecting chamber 20 is seated inthe seating space 142 through the docking opening 143 so that the dustcollecting chamber door 21 is set into an openable state.

The opening guide 145 may be arranged on a front inner circumferentialsurface 144 arranged on the front side of the seating space 142 in thesecond direction B and forming the docking opening 143 at a position ofthe seating space 142 in which the docking opening 143 is connected.

The opening guide 145 may be formed as a partial area of the front innercircumferential surface 144 according to the embodiment of thedisclosure. However, the disclosure is not limited thereto, and theopening guide 145 may be provided as a region or protruding surfaceprotruding from the front inner circumferential surface 144 toward thecenter, or in the shape of a protrusion, a rib and the like protrudingtoward the center from the inner circumferential surface.

The front inner circumferential surface 144 may be provided to have asize substantially corresponding to that of an outer circumferentialsurface of the body 22. In detail, the circumference of the front innercircumferential surface 144 of the docking opening 143 and thecircumference of the dust collecting chamber body 22 may be provided tosubstantially the same.

That is, when the dust collecting chamber 20 is docked onto the dockingstation 100, the front inner circumferential surface 144 and the outercircumferential surface of the body 22 may be provided to face eachother at a predetermined distance therebetween.

Accordingly, as the dust collecting chamber 20 is being seated in theseating space 142 through the docking opening 143, the dust collectingchamber 20 may have the outer circumferential surface of the body 22moved along the front inner circumferential surface 144 in the seconddirection B.

In this case, the push portion 25 a protruding outward from the outercircumferential surface of the body 22 may be pressed against theopening guide 145.

In detail, as the dust collecting chamber 20 is moved in the seconddirection B, the push portion 25 a disposed on the outside of the outercircumferential surface of the body 22 is pressed in the first directionA by the opening guide 145, which causes the push portion 25 a to rotateopposite to the radial direction of the outer circumferential surface ofthe body 22, so that the hook coupling between the hook portion 25 b andthe coupling protrusion 21 a is released, thereby setting the dustcollecting chamber door 21 into an openable state.

However, as described above, the dust collecting chamber door 21 ismaintained in an openable state without being opened unless anadditional external force is generated.

The dust collecting chamber 20 may include a gasket 26 on the dustcollecting chamber door 21 to seal a space between the dust collectingchamber door 21 and an inner circumferential surface 22 a of the body22. The gasket 26 may be formed of an elastic material, such as rubber,to seal a space between the inner circumferential surface 22 a of thebody 22 and the dust collecting chamber door 21 to prevent foreignsubstances collected in the dust collecting chamber 20 from beingscattered to the outside.

As described above, since the gasket 26 is formed of an elasticmaterial, the gasket 26 may be biased toward the inner circumferentialsurface 22 a of the body 22 when the dust collecting chamber door 21 isin a closed state.

That is, the gasket 26 is biased in the radial direction of the body 22with respect to the center of the body 22, so that when there is noexternal force on the dust collecting chamber door 21, the gasket 26 mayelastically support the dust collecting chamber door 21 to prevent thedust collecting chamber door 21 from being opened from the body 22.

Accordingly, even when the fixing member 25 is pressed by the openingguide 145, the dust collecting chamber door 21 is prevented from beingseparated from the body 22.

Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 7 , when the suction device 130 is drivenand the suction air current flows into the dust collecting chamber 20through the seating space 142, the suction air current provides the dustcollecting chamber door 21 with an external force in a direction to openthe dust collecting chamber door 21 so that the dust collecting chamberdoor 21 is opened and the foreign substances collected in the dustcollecting chamber 20 are caused to flow into the collecting part 150through the seating space 142 and thus be collected in the collectingpart 150.

The seating space 142 may be provided to allow the dust collectingchamber 20 to be inserted thereinto and allow the dust collectingchamber door 21 to be rotated inside the seating space 142.

The docking part 140 may include a flow path guide 146 disposed on theopposite side to the docking opening 143 in the second direction B inthe seating space 142 and formed in a curved surface.

The flow path guide 146 may be provided in a curved shape in which theflow guide connected to extend in the second direction B is connected toextend in the first direction A.

As described above, since the docking opening 143 is formed toward thesecond direction B and the suction device 130 is disposed downward ofthe docking part 140 in the first direction A, the suction air currentgenerated by the suction device 130 and flowing toward the dustcollecting chamber 20 may collide with a portion in which the firstdirection A and the second direction B cross each other, which causesnoise or pressure loss.

The flow path guide 146 may be formed on the opposite side to thedocking opening 143 in the second direction B in the seating space 142,which is a portion in which the first direction A and the seconddirection B cross each other, to guide the suction air current such thatthe suction air current flowing in the first direction A is caused toflow in the second direction B smoothly, or vice versa.

Hereinafter, a cleaning apparatus 1 according to another embodiment ofthe disclosure will be described. The components for the presentembodiment except the dust collecting chamber 20 are the same as thoseof the cleaning apparatus according to the embodiment described above,and therefore a description thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional perspective view of a part of a vacuumcleaner before the vacuum cleaner is docked onto a docking station in acleaning apparatus according to another embodiment of the disclosure.FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional perspective view of a part of a vacuumcleaner before the vacuum cleaner is docked onto a docking station in acleaning apparatus according to another embodiment of the disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 8 , the dust collecting chamber 20 may include anelastic member 27 disposed on the rotation shaft 21 c of the dustcollecting chamber door 21.

The elastic member 27 may be provided in the same shape as a torsionspring.

The elastic member 27 may be provided for the dust collecting chamberdoor 21 to be biased toward the body 22.

Accordingly, even when the dust collecting chamber door 21 is set intoan openable state by the fixing member 25 of the dust collecting chamber20 being pressed, the dust collecting chamber door 21, which iselastically supported by the elastic member 27, may remain closed unlessan external force is generated.

However, in this case, when a suction air current is generated by thesuction device 130, the suction air current provides the dust collectingchamber door 21 with an external force in a direction to open the dustcollecting chamber door 21 so that the dust collecting chamber door 21is opened and the foreign substances collected in the dust collectingcontainer 20 are caused to flow into the collecting part 150 through theseating space 142 and thus collected in the collecting part 150.

In addition, referring to FIG. 9 , the dust collecting chamber 20 mayinclude a pair of magnetic members 28 disposed on the body 22 and thedust collecting chamber door 21, respectively.

A first magnetic member 28 a of the pair of magnetic members 28 may bedisposed on the body 22, and a second magnetic member 28 b of the pairof magnetic members 28 may be disposed on the dust collecting chamberdoor 21.

Accordingly, even when the dust collecting chamber door 21 is set intoan openable state by the fixing member 25 of the dust collecting chamber20 being pressed, the dust collecting chamber door 21, which ismagnetically supported by the pair of magnetic members 28, may remainclosed unless an external force is generated.

However, in this case, when a suction air current is generated by thesuction device 130, the suction air current provides the dust collectingchamber door 21 with an external force in a direction to open the dustcollecting chamber door 21 so that the dust collecting chamber door 21is opened and the foreign substances collected in the dust collectingcontainer 20 are caused to flow into the collecting part 150 through theseating space 142 and thus collected in the collecting part 150.

Hereinafter, a cleaning apparatus 1 according to another embodiment ofthe disclosure will be described. The components for the embodimentexcept an opening guide are the same as those of the cleaning apparatusaccording to the embodiment described above, and therefore a descriptionthereof will be omitted

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional perspective view of a part of a vacuumcleaner in a state in which the vacuum cleaner is docked onto a dockingstation in a cleaning apparatus according to another embodiment of thedisclosure, and FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional perspective view of a partof a vacuum cleaner docked onto a docking station with an opening guidedriven in a cleaning apparatus according to another embodiment of thedisclosure.

Since the fixing member 25 is pressed in response to the dust collectingchamber 20 being docked onto the docking station 100, the dustcollecting door 21 may be maintained in an openable state. In this case,as described above, when there is no external force on the dustcollecting chamber door 21, the dust collecting chamber door 21 is notopened.

However, when an unexpected external force is applied to the dockingstation 100, the external force is applied to the dust collectingchamber door 21 so that the dust collecting chamber door 21 may beopened and foreign substances collected in the dust collecting chamber20 may be scattered to the outside.

That is, when the dust collecting chamber door 21 is opened by anexternal force other than the suction air current in a state in whichthe suction device 130 is not driven, the foreign substances collectedin the dust collecting chamber 20 may be scattered to the outside of thedocking station 100.

The docking station 100 may be provided to, when the cleaner 10 isdocked, perform both a charging mode of charging the battery 16 of thecleaner 10 and a suction mode of driving the suction device 130 todischarge foreign substances inside the dust collecting chamber 20, orperform one of a charging mode and a suction mode.

That is, the user may control the docking station 100 so that, when thecleaner 10 is docked onto the docking station 100, only the chargingmode is performed. When the dust collecting chamber door 21 is opened ina state in which the suction mode is not in operation, foreignsubstances may be scattered to the outside.

In order to solve such a limitation, the docking station 100 accordingto the embodiment of the disclosure may include an opening guide 147allowing the fixing member 25 of the docked dust collecting chamber 20to be pressed only when the suction device 130 is driven.

The opening guide 147 may be provided in the shape of a protrusion or arib protruding toward the center of the front inner circumferentialsurface 144 from the front inner circumferential surface 144.

The opening guide 147, when the dust collecting chamber 20 is insertedinto the docking part 140 through the docking opening 143 and docked,may be disposed at an inner side of the docking part 140 in the seconddirection B from the fixing member 25 of the dust collecting chamber 20.

Accordingly, the opening guide 147 may be provided to prevent the fixingmember 25 from being pressed in a state in which the dust collectingchamber 20 is docked.

Therefore, since the fixing member 25 is not pressed even when the dustcollecting chamber 20 is docked onto the docking part 140, the dustcollecting chamber door 21 is prevented from being opened by an externalforce.

The docking part 140 may include a driving device 148 interworking withthe opening guide 147 to drive the opening guide 147.

The driving device 148 may drive the opening guide 147 to translate theopening guide 147 in the second direction B according to a signal fromthe controller (not shown) of the docking station 100.

The driving device 148 may, upon receiving a signal from the controller(not shown) of the docking station 100 when the suction device 130 isdriven, drive the opening guide 147 to be moved forward in the seconddirection B.

The driving device 148 may be provided in various configurations, suchas a motor, a solenoid valve, and the like.

As the opening guide 147 moves forward, the opening guide 147 may beprovided to press the fixing member 25, causing the dust collectingchamber door 21 to be set into an openable state.

Therefore, the opening guide 147 and the driving device 148 may allowthe fixing member 25 to be selectively pressed so that the dustcollecting chamber door 21 is opened only when the suction device 130 isdriven. Accordingly, foreign substances collected in the dust collectingchamber 20 are prevented from being unintentionally scattered to theoutside.

In addition, although not shown in the drawings, the driving device 148may be provided to be directly controlled by the user. That is, inaddition to control of the controller (not shown) of the docking station100 according to the driving of the suction device 130, the user mayseparately input a signal for driving the driving device 148 to drivethe driving device 148.

The user may input a driving signal of the driving device 148 to thecontroller (not shown) of the docking station 100, so that the user maycontrol the driving device 148 separately from driving of the suctiondevice 130.

In addition, the disclosure is not limited thereto, and in order for theuser to directly move the opening guide 147 using a physical forcethrough an intermediate member (not shown) provided to interwork withthe opening guide 147, the disclosure may include a push button (notshown) and the like interworking with the intermediate member (notshown).

The push button (not shown) may be disposed on one side of the bodyhousing 110 to allow a user to easily open the dust collecting chamberdoor 21 through the opening guide 147.

Hereinafter, a cleaning apparatus 1 according to another embodiment ofthe disclosure will be described. The components for the embodimentexcept a docking station are the same as those of the cleaning apparatusaccording to the embodiment described above, and therefore a descriptionthereof will be omitted.

FIG. 12 is a view illustrating a state in which a vacuum cleaner of acleaning apparatus according to another embodiment of the disclosure isdocked onto a docking station.

Referring to FIG. 12 , a body housing 210 of a docking station 200 maybe provided to have a long axis extending in the first direction A.

A docking surface 211 of the body housing 210 may be provided to have along axis extending in a third direction D having an inclination withrespect to the first direction A, unlike the above described embodimentof the disclosure.

Accordingly, the docking surface 211 may be provided to extend in adirection inclined with respect to the first direction A, which is anupper and lower side direction.

Since the docking space 211 includes a docking opening 143 into whichthe dust collecting chamber 20 is inserted, the cleaner 10 may be dockedonto the docking station 100 in a direction of the docking surface 211in the docking station 200. The cleaner 10 may be provided to be dockedonto the docking station 200 in a fourth direction E perpendicular tothe third direction D. The fourth direction E may be provided in adirection inclined with respect to the second direction B.

The cleaner 10 may be docked onto the docking station 200 in a directionperpendicular to a direction in which the long axis of the dockingsurface 211 extends in the docking station 200. The cleaner 10 may beprovided to be docked onto the docking station 200 in the fourthdirection E perpendicular to the third direction D.

Since the direction in which the cleaner 10 is docked onto the dockingstation 200 is provided in the fourth direction E oblique with respectto the second direction B, which is the horizontal direction, the usermay easily dock the cleaner 10 onto the docking station 200.

Although specific embodiments of the disclosure have been shown anddescribed, the above embodiments are for illustrative purpose only, andit would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes andmodifications may be made in these embodiments without departing fromthe principles and scope of the disclosure, the scope of which isdefined in the claims and their equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. A cleaning apparatus comprising: a vacuum cleaner including a dust collecting chamber; wherein the dust collecting chamber includes: a dust collecting chamber body having a dust collecting chamber opening, a dust collecting chamber door configured to open or close the dust collecting chamber opening, and a fixing member configured to fix the dust collecting chamber door to the dust collecting chamber body to close the dust collecting chamber opening, and, when pressed by an external force, to release the dust collecting chamber door to open the dust collecting chamber opening; and a dust collecting station configured to be connectable to the vacuum cleaner, the dust collecting station longitudinally extending along a first direction and having a front that faces a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, wherein the dust collecting station includes: a seating portion including an opening in the front of the dust collecting station, and configured so that the dust collecting chamber is seatable on the opening of the seating portion; a suction device configured to generate a suction airflow; a dust bag disposed between the opening of the seating portion and the suction device; an opening guide configured to press the fixing member of the dust collecting chamber; a driving device configured to drive the opening guide; and a controller configured to, when the dust collecting chamber is seated on the seating portion, control the driving device to drive the opening guide to press the fixing member of the dust collecting chamber to release the dust collecting chamber door so that the opening of the seating portion communicates with the dust collecting chamber opening, and, when the opening of the seating portion communicates with the dust collecting chamber opening, control the suction device to generate the suction airflow to suction foreign substances in the dust collecting chamber through the dust collecting chamber opening, then through the opening of the seating portion, and into the dust bag; the dust collecting station further comprising: a panel at the front of the dust collecting station and configured to open and thereby provide an opening at the front of the dust collecting station through which the dust bag is withdrawable.
 2. The cleaning apparatus of claim 1, wherein the opening guide is provided to move in the second direction to press the fixing member to open the dust collecting chamber door.
 3. The cleaning apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first direction extends longitudinally from an upper end of the dust collecting station to a lower end of the dust collecting station.
 4. The cleaning apparatus of claim 2, wherein the driving device includes: a motor configured to provide a rotational force to drive the opening guide to be moved in the second direction.
 5. The cleaning apparatus of claim 1, wherein the dust collecting chamber is provided to be connected to the opening of the seating portion in a direction of a longitudinal axis of the dust collecting chamber body.
 6. The cleaning apparatus of claim 5, wherein the vacuum cleaner further includes: a cleaner body; a suction unit configured to suction foreign substances; and an extension pipe connecting the suction unit and the cleaner body and having a longitudinal axis provided to be perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the dust collecting chamber body.
 7. The cleaning apparatus of claim 1, wherein the vacuum cleaner further includes: a cleaner body; a suction unit configured to suction foreign substances; and an extension pipe connecting the suction unit and the cleaner body and having a longitudinal axis; wherein the vacuum cleaner, upon the dust collecting chamber being seated in the seating portion, is supported on the dust collecting station such that the longitudinal axis of the extension pipe is arranged in parallel with the first direction.
 8. The cleaning apparatus of claim 4, wherein the dust collecting chamber door is provided to be disposed inside the opening of the dust collecting station when opened by the opening guide pressing the fixing member.
 9. The cleaning apparatus of claim 1, wherein the opening guide has a shape protruding upward in the first direction.
 10. The cleaning apparatus of claim 1, wherein the dust collecting chamber includes: a rotation shaft disposed at a first side of the dust collecting chamber body, the dust collecting chamber door is provided to be rotated with respect to the rotation shaft, the fixing member is disposed at a second side opposite to the rotation shaft with respect to a center of the dust collecting chamber body, and the dust collecting chamber is provided such that the fixing member is disposed downward of the rotation shaft in the first direction when the dust collecting chamber is seated on the dust collecting station.
 11. The cleaning apparatus of claim 10, wherein the dust collecting chamber further includes: an elastic member disposed at a side of the rotation shaft and provided to bias the dust collecting chamber door in a direction toward the dust collecting chamber body.
 12. The cleaning apparatus of claim 2, wherein the dust collecting station is configured such that the seating portion, the dust bag, and the suction device are sequentially disposed along a longitudinal axis of the dust collecting station from an upper end of the dust collecting station toward a lower end of the dust collecting station.
 13. The cleaning apparatus of claim 12, further comprising: a flow path formed between the opening of the seating portion to the suction device; and a flow path control device provided to block at least a portion of the flow path.
 14. The cleaning apparatus of claim 13, wherein the flow path control device is provided to be driven while the suction device is being driven.
 15. The cleaning apparatus of claim 14, wherein the dust collecting station further includes: a flow path guide disposed inside the dust collecting station opposite to the opening of the seating portion, the flow path guide having a curved shape so as to extend in the second direction toward the opening of the seating portion, and in the first direction toward the suction device, such that the flow path extends from the opening of the seating portion to the suction device via the dust bag.
 16. The cleaning apparatus of claim 15, wherein the dust collecting chamber further includes: a first dust collecting part formed along an inner circumferential surface of the dust collecting chamber body, and a second dust collecting part formed at a center of the first dust collecting part and divided from the first dust collecting part; and the seating portion is provided so that, when the dust collecting chamber opening is opened, the suction airflow is simultaneously supplied to both the first dust collecting part and the second dust collecting part.
 17. The cleaning apparatus of claim 16, wherein the dust collecting chamber further includes: a cap part disposed on the dust collecting chamber door so as to prevent foreign substances collected in the second dust collecting part from escaping to an outside when the dust collecting chamber opening is closed, wherein the cap part is disposed to face the suction device in a state in which the dust collecting chamber opening is open inside the seating portion.
 18. The cleaning apparatus of claim 1, wherein the seating portion is disposed on the front of the dust collecting station.
 19. The cleaning apparatus of claim 1, wherein the dust collecting station further includes: a charging portion provided to charge a battery of the vacuum cleaner; and the controller is configured to control, when the dust collecting chamber is seated on the opening of the seating portion, the dust collecting station to operate in a suction mode in which the suction device is driven, and the dust collecting station to operate in a charging mode in which the charging portion is driven.
 20. The cleaning apparatus of claim 19, wherein the controller controls the charging portion so that the battery is not charged while the dust collecting station is being driven in the suction mode.
 21. The cleaning apparatus of claim 19, wherein the controller controls the charging portion so that the battery is charged while the dust collecting station is being driven in the suction mode.
 22. The cleaning apparatus of claim 19, wherein the charging portion is disposed above the seating portion in the first direction.
 23. The cleaning apparatus of claim 19, wherein the charging portion, the seating portion, the dust bag, and the suction device are sequentially disposed in the first direction.
 24. The cleaning apparatus of claim 19, wherein the charging portion includes: a charging terminal provided to be in contact with the battery, and a battery guide configured to guide at least a portion of the vacuum cleaner so that the battery is in contact with the charging terminal when the dust collecting chamber is seated on the seating portion.
 25. A cleaning apparatus comprising: a vacuum cleaner including a dust collecting chamber; and a dust collecting station configured to be connectable to the vacuum cleaner, the dust collecting station longitudinally extending along a first direction and having a front that faces a second direction perpendicular to the first direction; wherein the dust collecting station includes: a seating portion including an opening in the front of the dust collecting station, and configured so that the dust collecting chamber is seatable on the seating portion, a suction device configured to generate a suction airflow, a dust bag disposed between the opening of the seating portion and the suction device, an opening guide configured to press the fixing member of the dust collecting chamber, a charging portion configured to charge a battery of the vacuum cleaner, a driving device configured to drive the opening guide, and a controller configured to control the charging portion so as not to charge the battery while the suction device operates for discharging foreign substances in the dust collecting chamber into the dust bag.
 26. The cleaning apparatus of claim 25, wherein the dust collecting station further includes: a panel at the front of the dust collecting station and configured to open and thereby provide an opening at the front of the dust collecting station through which the dust bag is withdrawable.
 27. The cleaning apparatus of claim 25, wherein the opening guide is provided to move in the second direction to press the fixing member to open the dust collecting chamber door.
 28. The cleaning apparatus of claim 25, wherein the charging portion includes: a charging terminal provided to be in contact with the battery, and a battery guide configured to guide at least a portion of the vacuum cleaner so that the battery is in contact with the charging terminal when the dust collecting chamber is seated on the opening of the seating portion. 